Functional electrical stimulation: current status and future prospects of applications to the neuromuscular system in spinal cord injury.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a means of eliciting activation of the nervous system in order to elicit either a therapeutic or functional effect. The results of research performed over the past 10 years has provided a scientific knowledge base for clinical studies. The results of clinical studies demonstrate the viability of utilising FES to restore function to the spinal injured individual. This article focuses on applications to the neuromuscular system which are relevant to the care of these individuals.